At ages 16 and 11, feisty orphans Andi and Bruce (Roberts and Austin) are having trouble finding an adoptive home. Their latest foster parents (Kudrow and Dillon) are dismissive rocker wannabes, and their social worker (Cheadle) is tired of bailing them out of trouble. Then, besides hiding their scrawny but ravenous mutt Friday from everyone, they start collecting strays in an abandoned hotel with the help of some new friends (Simmons, Pratt and Gentile). But there's only so long they can keep this a secret.

The filmmakers shamelessly go for cute over funny, making the most of their adorable canine performers and indulging in goofy dog behaviour that isn't very realistic or probable. Despite a fairly continual stream of doggy toilet jokes, the film is never remotely vulgar. And the pooches are absurdly well-trained, even when they run amok. While some of them are given comical personalities, including a silly romantic subplot between a hideous Chinese crested and a fluffy poodle.

Meanwhile, the human cast keeps us interested by playing up the wacky adventure while keeping the serious premise just under the surface. Roberts' quick-thinking Andi and Austin's boy-inventor Bruce are superb characters, echoing inspirational heroes from classic kids' movies who use their brains to do the right thing for a change. And their three youthful cohorts are also solid, with terrific support from serious actor Cheadle, while Kudrow and Dillon provide the comedy scene-stealing.

Like the best children's movies, this film plays most strongly on its fantasy element: what kid wouldn't want to live in a massive hotel filled with affectionate dogs and clever inventions? Yes, the slapstick is extremely corny and unrealistic, the comedy shtick doesn't always click into gear and the heart-warming sweetness at the end gets incredibly gooey during the predictable finale. But the big caper sequence is great fun, and by the end you'll probably be wondering where you can get one of these adorable puppies for your own.

themes, some suspense

11.Jan.09